Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens
Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens is a podcast hosted by parent coach and author Casey O'Roarty, aimed at parents of tweens and teens navigating the challenges of adolescence. Each episode offers inspiration, practical information, and encouragement for families moving through this often messy stage of life. The show focuses on building strong parent-teen relationships, nurturing life skills, and supporting parents' own personal growth. Drawing on her background as a Positive Discipline Lead Trainer and her work with Sproutable, Casey shares tools and conversations to help parents feel less alone in the collective experience of raising teenagers.
Episodes
Eps 676: Amber Traina, Positive Discipline Today
Positive Discipline has been the book so many of us reach for since 1981, and now there’s a new edition. My guest Amber Traina, granddaughter of Dr. Jane Nelsen, worked alongside Jane on the revision and the new chapter on technology. We talk about why kind and firm sits at the heart of it and the difference between niceness and kindness. Amber shares the tech audit and why connection is what brin
Eps 675: When Your Teens Grades Start Slipping
It's that time of year... The grade portal shows a pile of missing assignments, and taking the phone away feels like the only leverage you have. In this solo show I start in that moment with a teen who's behind in school, then work outward through the intentional ecosystem. We look at how your house runs and how connected you and your teen are, then at what you make those grades mean. I cover mist
Eps 674: Co-Parenting Boundaries with Amy Armstrong
You can do everything right and someone in your life can still make it hard. In this episode, I talk with Amy Armstrong, LISW-S, founder of the Center for Family Resolution, about co-parenting boundaries and staying grounded when another person's reactivity pulls you off center.
Amy shares her own story of chronic conflict, why trying to understand a difficult person rarely brings the control we
Eps 673: Stuart Slavin on Teen Pressure
Dr. Stuart Slavin has spent decades studying what pressure does to young people, and what he found flips the usual conversation. When he cut class time and letter grades at a medical school, depression and anxiety dropped by 80% and board scores went up.
A few things from our conversation:
→ Teen mental health started declining long before smartphones→ The average teen in his research sleeps six
Eps 672: Letting Go of the Story
Three weeks ago I told you about the text I got in an Atlanta hotel room. Today I share what happened after I got home, what I tried, and what finally shifted. This is the third show in the series, and the one the others were building toward. We look at all four ecosystem questions at once, the narrative I didn't know I was holding, and the anchor word practice I still use. It's also the last time
Eps 671: "Is This Normal? Teenage Behavior and What's Underneath It
Every parent of a teen has asked some version of this: Is this normal teenage behavior, or is something actually wrong? This week I go under your teen's closed door, attitude, screens, and secrecy. What's driving all of it is belonging, significance, and the private logic your kiddo is writing in real time. I share four questions that tell you where the trouble actually lives, honest signs that it
Eps 670: Knowing Better Isn't Enough
I thought I knew everything about co-regulation and the nervous system when my daughter texted me from across the country to say she was dropping out. None of it was available to me. In this solo show I get into what happens when you flip your lid, why knowing better doesn't protect you, and the three things you can practice tonight so your body has the move loaded when the house isn't calm. This
Eps 669: Margot Bisnow on Raising Entrepreneurs
This week I'm sharing a conversation I had with Margot Bisnow, who interviewed more than 70 families raising wildly self-driven kids. She went looking for a formula and found something more ordinary. We get into how to tell a real passion from checking out, and what parents do in the moments after their kid fails. She also tells the story of biting her tongue when her son left college halfway thro
Eps 668: Your 2026 Back To School Reset
I'm back from a couple weeks off and I'm fired up about the intentional ecosystem, the model I've been carrying around all summer. It's four layers, and you work them from the outside in: you, your relationship with your teen, your systems and routines, and the in-the-moment tools. This is my answer to the question I get more than any other, which is I know what I'm supposed to do, so why isn't it
Eps 667: Trish Gower on Regulated Leadership
Even if you don't run a business, you're running something. In this conversation with business coach Trish Gower, we talk about what happens when your nervous system is driving the car. Over-functioning, boundaries that actually hold, the mental load, and why "I don't have time" is usually a story we tell ourselves. If you're a parent of teens who's exhausted from holding it all together, this one
Eps 666: Robynn Powers - Food Without Rules
Our kids are watching how we talk about our bodies, and they're deciding what that means about theirs. In this episode I sit down with health and wellness coach Robynn Powers to talk about body image, food rules, and what gets handed down without us meaning to. We get into keeping food neutral, why restriction backfires with teens, and where to start if you feel like you've already blown it. Come
Eps 665: Marriage and the teen years with Shilo Minor
Parenting teens has a way of surfacing everything we've been avoiding in our marriage. This week I'm talking with Shilo Minor about what happens when the connection thins out and you start feeling more like roommates than partners. We get into fawning, self-abandonment, boundaries that actually hold, and why the inner work is worth doing even when you're the only one doing it. If you love your per
Eps 664: Parenting and launching your teen
In this solo episode, I answer a question from a mom whose oldest is heading off to college across the country. How do you show up for your kid in the months before and after they launch? I talk through letting them practice freedom before they go, keeping routines and contributions in place, holding the both/and of excitement and sadness, and setting up communication that actually works. If you'r
Eps 663: Moving through crisis without losing yourself
This week I'm getting honest about being in my own season of crisis and what it's teaching me about the fawn response, that fourth survival instinct after fight, flight, and freeze. If you've ever walked on eggshells with your teen or someone else you love, or have struggled to hold a boundary because you're scared of losing the relationship, this one's for you. I share the Adlerian roots of peopl
Eps 662: PART TWO of Teen Cannabin Use with Susan Notis
In part two of my conversation with parent coach Susan Notis, we move past the information about teen cannabis use and into what you can actually do about it. We get into regulating your own nervous system before you talk, communicating without slipping into lecture mode, and how to tell when a consequence is safe to let unfold versus when it's time to call in help. If your teen is using and you f
Eps 661: Diane Sorensen on Lifelong Motherhood
I loved this convo! My guest, Diane Sorenson shares what shifts when you stop performing motherhood and start treating it as a lifelong relationship. We talk boundaries as an expression of your truth, why holding a firm line is connection rather than its opposite, and how to stay steady when your teen is furious with you. If you've ever folded to make the bad feeling go away, press play.
Guest bi
Eps 660: Lori Petro on Obedience Culture
What if the way we treat our babies and teenagers could actually predict whether they grow up peaceful or violent? In this episode, I welcome back Lori Petro to dig into the buried research of Dr. James Prescott, the pull of obedience culture, and how shame around our kids' bodies and emotions shapes who they become. We get honest about parenting teens, sexual development, and choosing curiosity o
Eps 659: Free-Range Teens with Lenore Skenazy
What if our teens are far more capable than our anxious culture lets us believe? (spoiler: they are) In this episode, I sit down with Lenore Skenazy to talk about raising independent, resilient teenagers in a world built on fear. We dig into why kids crave independence, how "worst-first thinking" keeps us stuck, and practical tools to help your teen practice real-world skills before they launch.
Eps 658: Lisa Woodruff helps us tame home chaos
We don't parent in a vacuum, my friend. Midlife and the teen years pile on the paperwork, the appointments, the mental load—and so many of us are drowning in reactive mode. In this episode, I sit down with organization expert Lisa Woodruff to talk about the invisible work of running a home, moving from reactive to proactive, and her game-changing Sunday Basket system. If you're a parent of teens c
Eps 657: Attia Qureshi and negotiating with teens
Negotiation isn't a boardroom skill—it's a parenting skill, and every hard conversation with our teens is a training ground. In this episode, I talk with negotiation expert Atiya Qureshi about asking for what we need, managing our own emotional storms, and finding the relational middle ground between passive and aggressive. We dig into understanding interests over positions, the internal negotiati
Eps 656: What if your teen is having a problem, not being one?
If your teen's disrespect, eye rolls, and slammed doors have you feeling stuck, this solo episode is for you. I'm unpacking a game-changing reframe: your teen isn't being a problem, they're having a problem. Drawing on Positive Discipline and the Rudolf Dreikurs's Mistaken Goal Chart, I share why discouraged teens act out, how power struggles and revenge cycles trap us, and five practical moves to
Ep 655: "Who is this kid?!" The transition of adolescence
In this solo episode, I'm diving into the messy, beautiful work of parenting through transitions. Whether you're watching your kiddo move from elementary to middle school, middle to high school, or out into young adulthood, this season of parenting tweens and teens asks something new of us. I'll share three shifts that have changed everything for me: naming what's actually happening, seeing the ki
Eps 654: Don Campbell on Raising Sons
Raising a teenage boy today means navigating contradictory messages about who he's supposed to be — strong but soft, expressive but not too much. In this episode, I sit down with Don Campbell of Soul Fire Parenting to unpack what teen boys actually need from us: closeness, safe harbor, and parents who model vulnerability. We dig into the power-over parenting trap, the real cost of "tough love," an
Eps 653: Exploring teen cannabis use with Susan Notis
If you've ever stood in your kitchen wondering if your teen's weed use is "just a phase," this episode is for you. I'm joined by parent coach Susan Norts to talk about teen cannabis dependency, why today's marijuana isn't what we grew up with, and how to stay grounded when fear takes over. We dig into nervous system regulation, honest communication, and the long game of leading our teens through c
Eps 652: Soft Teens or Snowflake Parenting?
In this solo episode, I take you into my comments section, where a listener called my parenting content "snowflake." I use it as a doorway into what Positive Discipline actually looks like with tweens and teens — why kind AND firm isn't soft, why consequences don't build skills, and how curiosity under the iceberg shifts how we show up. If you're raising an adolescent and tired of the "kick in the
Eps 651: Rebuilding trust with our teens
In this solo episode, I dig into what so many parents of teens wrestle with: rebuilding trust after your kid has hurt or scared you. I explore why hypervigilance is a trauma response and not a character flaw, the difference between earned trust and naive trust, why the body holds on even when our mind wants to move on, and how doing your own healing work matters as much as anything they do. Tender
Eps 650: Teen Sleep Help with Dr. Melisa Moore
Teen sleep struggles are real — and they're not about laziness or bad parenting. In this episode, I sit down with clinical psychologist and sleep medicine specialist Dr. Melissa Moore to unpack why adolescent sleep is so hard and what parents can actually do about it. We explore the circadian shift of adolescence, neurodivergent sleep challenges, and how to have conversations that build cooperatio
Eps 649: Teen Coaching with Anna Kashner
If you've ever watched your teen spiral into negative thinking and felt completely helpless — or worse, realized your response made it worse — this episode is for you. I sat down with certified youth life coach Anna Kashner to talk about teen life coaching, how it's different from therapy, and what's actually happening in your teen's brain when they catastrophize. Anna is warm, practical, and deep
Eps 648: Parenting with Humility and Breaking Cycles with Wendy Snyder
In this episode, I'm sitting down with the incredible Wendy Snyder of Fresh Start Family — and this conversation is good. We're talking about breaking painful generational cycles, the power of humility as a parenting superpower, and why releasing control actually works better in the teen years. Wendy shares her raw, honest journey from overwhelmed mom to leading educator, and we get into the real
Eps 647: Returning to our soul care
If you've been feeling off lately (like me) — scattered, insecure, or like you've lost your footing — this episode is for you. In this solo show, I'm sharing what happened when I finally returned to my Soul Care practice after weeks away, and why intentional inner work is our most important foundation. I walk you through gratitude, affirmations, card pulls, and the mindset shifts that help me stay
Eps 646: Getting real about "good kids" with Maggie Nick
If you've ever wondered why your "good kid" seems fine on the outside but distant, perfectionistic, or quietly falling apart — this episode is for you. I sat down with Maggie Nick, licensed clinical social worker and trauma therapist, to talk about what she calls "good kid" patterns: the relational shame that forms when kids learn to hide their messy, real selves to stay lovable. We dig into the c
Eps 645: Parenting from Trust with Debbie Simmons
Are you parenting from trust—or survival? In this episode I sit down with Debbie Simmons, mom of thirteen and leadership strategist, to explore the hidden defaults that hijack our parenting when pressure hits—control, silence, over-functioning, people pleasing. We talk about why being the "strong one" in your family might actually be costing you your health and your connection with your teen. Debb
Eps 644: Teen Triggers & Healing with Layne Burkette
If you've ever promised yourself you'd respond differently to your teen—and then found yourself right back in the same reactive loop—this episode is for you. I sat down with somatic educator and counselor Layne Burkette to explore why parenting teens is a physical experience, not just a mental one. We dig into how your own teenage wounds show up in your parenting today, and Layne guides us through
Eps 643: Fearless Finance with Lori Atwood
Money talk on a parenting podcast? Yes — because financial stress shows up in our relationships with our teens whether we acknowledge it or not. In this episode I sit down with financial planner Lori Atwood to explore why so many of us avoid looking at our finances, how that avoidance leaks into our parenting, and what we can actually do about it. We dig into allowance, buyer's remorse as a teachi
Eps 642: Skip the Punishment, Focus on Solutions
In this episode, I'm unpacking the unintended results of punishment, and why it isn't helpful with teenagers — and what actually is. We dig into the adolescent brain science behind why our kids make impulsive choices, why consequences are often just punishment in disguise, and how focusing on solutions builds the critical thinking skills our teens actually need. If you've ever wondered what to do
Eps 641: Well being is an inside job
I'm diving deep into what happens when we release others—including our teens—to their own journeys. As parents, we hang on so tight, resisting what scares us, but what we resist persists. I'm sharing my own messy middle of personal growth work, walking through the five principles of Positive Discipline from a radically honest place about marriage, parenting teens, and the hardest truth: our wellbe
Eps 640: Relationship Reset with your Teen
Feeling like you're living with a wildfire instead of just putting out fires with your teen? In this solo episode, I explore why traditional discipline approaches fail when relationships are ruptured, and introduce the concept of a "relationship reset" - an energetic cast that gives both you and your teen space to heal. Learn how disengaging with love (not indifference) can restore influence, rebu
Eps 639: Politics and Parenting with Alyson Schafer
In this powerful conversation, I sit down with psychotherapist and Positive Discipline expert Alyson Schafer to explore how we can support our teens through today's turbulent political climate. We discuss Alfred Adler's vision for raising cooperative citizens, reading our kids' stress signals, using curiosity over lectures, and helping teens move from doom-scrolling to meaningful action. If you're
Eps 638: School-Based Mental Health Solutions with Kevin Dahill-Fuchel
I recently sat down with Kevin Dahill-Fuchel to explore what's really happening with teens' mental health today and why traditional models aren't enough. We discussed the crisis of isolation among adolescents, how schools can become centers of healing, and the critical importance of adults modeling healthy relationships. Kevin shares powerful insights about meeting kids where they are, making suic
Eps 637: Dr. Jared Horvath-EdTech Harms Learning
I sat down with Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, a neuroscientist who's worked with over 1,000 schools globally, and what he shared about educational technology absolutely validates what so many of us have been feeling. After reviewing six decades of research, Jared reveals how ed tech actually undermines our kids' learning—and why COVID didn't change that. Dr. Horvath earned his doctorate from Universit
Eps 636: Create, Don't Correct in 2026
I'm starting 2026 at the heart of everything I teach: the shift from problem-focused to possibility-focused parenting. This solo episode dives deep into the work I've been doing with parents for nearly 20 years—understanding why your tools disappear when emotions run high and what actually bridges that gap. I'll unpack the neuroscience of focus, share the embodiment practices that ground my approa
Eps 635: Winter break with teens
In this solo episode, I'm getting real about navigating the holiday break with your teen. I'll walk you through the both/and of this season—how to hold hope and anxiety at the same time, including the grief that might be present. We'll explore how break is actually a low-stakes laboratory where teens practice essential life skills like managing unstructured time and problem-solving boredom. I'm sh
Eps 634: Revisiting Holiday Presence and Connection with Dr. Shefali and Julietta Skoog
In this powerful replay from last year, I team up with my business partner Julietta Skoog and the incredible Dr. Shefali to reframe everything you think you know about the holiday season. We explore how to stay present with yourself and your teens when expectations run high and chaos feels inevitable. I guide you through grounding practices, Julietta shares practical strategies for involving your
Eps 633: Revisiting Control vs Influence While Parenting Teens
During this week's solo show, I am digging back into one of the biggest parenting struggles: the illusion of control. As a parent educator with nearly 20 years of experience, I'm breaking down why trying to control our teens backfires and how shifting to influence transforms everything. Learn why getting out of your teen's way doesn't mean permissive parenting, how to move from the driver's seat t
Eps 632: Therapy may not be the answer for discouraged teens with Nicole Runyon
In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Runyon, a child psychotherapist with 22 years of experience and author of "Free to Fly." We tackle some uncomfortable truths about modern parenting—how our well-intentioned approaches might actually be contributing to our kids' struggles.
Nicole shares why children are "canaries in the coal mine," sending us messages through their behavior about toxic envi
Eps 631: Revisiting three things that are real in the right here right now
In this solo show replay, I'm reflecting on what life teaches us through the messiness of parenting teens, navigating marriage, and building a business. In this vulnerable episode, I share three powerful lessons from each area of my life—from recognizing that our teens know what they want, to learning that surrender isn't giving up but meeting life as it unfolds. Whether you're struggling with con
Eps 630: Help for the self destructive teen with Katie May
In this week's interview episode, I sit down with licensed therapist Katie May to discuss one of parenthood's hardest challenges: supporting teens through self-destructive behaviors and overwhelming emotions. Katie, founder of Creative Healing Teen Support Centers and author of "You're On Fire, It's Fine," shares proven DBT strategies that actually work. We dive deep into mood-dependent behavior,
Eps 629: Revisiting gratitude and finding acceptance
In this Thanksgiving replay episode, I'm reflecting on gratitude during challenging times—and trust me, 2020 tested us all. I share how we can be grateful not for our struggles, but for who we become when we choose to grow through them. You'll hear about the spiral of personal growth and why we keep facing the same challenges (spoiler: we're different each time). I discuss self-regulation, staying
Eps 628: Interrupting parenting patterns with Marielle Melling
In this episode, I sit down with Marielle Melling to explore the invisible forces driving our least favorite parenting moments and how to interrupt them. We dive deep into the gap between knowing better and actually doing better, discussing what Marielle calls our "bottom underlying truth" (BUT)—what we're really making important in heated moments with our teens. Marielle shares practical, actiona
Eps 627: The Inner Work of Intentional Parenting
I'm sharing some things that are deeply personal today about navigating life's hardest moments—from my daughter's mental health struggles to my husband's cancer diagnosis. This episode isn't about parenting strategies; it's about the inner work of choosing how we meet each moment. I'll walk you through my five-step process for staying present and intentional when everything feels overwhelming: sel
Eps 626: Functional Mushrooms Demystified with Nicole Erdrich
In this eye-opening episode, I explore functional mushrooms and adaptogens with my friend Nicole Erdrich from Four Peaks Medicinals. We demystify how these powerful organisms support parents through stress, brain fog, and the unique challenges of midlife. Nicole shares practical insights on lion's mane for cognitive function, turkey tail for immune support, and adaptogens that naturally balance yo
Eps 625: Revisiting building the house of Positive Discipline as parents of teens
Building a strong parenting foundation with teens isn't about quick fixes—it's about creating a supportive container for their growth. In this replay episode, I break down my "House of Positive Discipline" framework, starting with the most critical piece: your own personal development. From there, we layer in relationship-building, systems and routines, and finally those in-the-moment tools you ne
Eps 624: College Admission Truths with David Blobaum
Feeling overwhelmed by college admissions? I sat down with David Blobaum, a national test prep expert, to demystify the entire process. We discuss how test-optional policies really work, what admissions officers actually look for, and why prestigious schools aren't always the best choice. David shares insider secrets like using the Common Data Set to decode admissions criteria and understanding wh
Eps 623: Saying "No" to our teens
I'm sharing something crucial about setting boundaries with teens that most parents miss. When our teenagers push back against our "no," our nervous systems can get completely hijacked by their anger and disappointment. In this episode, I break down the neuroscience of what happens in these heated moments and offer practical tools using curiosity and validation to stay grounded. I'll show you how
Eps 622: College Reality Check From My Son
In this episode, I sit down with my son Ian, a college sophomore, for an honest conversation about navigating college life in 2025. We discuss communication strategies between parents and college students, balancing academics and social life, managing finances and groceries, maintaining health and wellness, and building independence. Ian shares what goes through his mind when I reach out, how he s
Eps 621: Revisiting Consciously practicing connection, curiosity, and presence with ourselves and others
I'm diving deep into the messy, beautiful work of parenting teens with intention and compassion. In this episode, I explore why changing our parenting patterns feels so hard (hint: it's like forging a new path through the forest), how to practice non-attachment while staying fiercely committed, and the power of pausing to check in with ourselves throughout the day. I share real talk about trusting
Eps 620: Meditation as a parenting tool with Katie Krimitsos
As a parent coach working with families for over 20 years, I've learned that raising teenagers requires us to pause before reacting. In this episode, I sit down with meditation expert Katie Krimitsos to discuss how mindfulness helps parents navigate adolescent chaos without making things worse. Katie shares practical ways to go within, manage parental anxiety, and stay grounded when your teen's ch
Eps 619: Life Skills for Launching Teens
I'm diving deep into teaching life skills to teens—from driving and money management to cooking and getting their first job. If you're stressed about whether your teen is "ready" to launch, this episode is for you. I share how I navigated the messy middle of raising two very different kids, why mistakes are actually gifts, and how to stop micromanaging and start believing in your teen's ability to
Eps 618: Loving the teen you have with Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart
I sat down with pediatric psychologist Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart to discuss her groundbreaking new book about transforming teen conflict into connection. We explored rejection sensitivity in teens with ADHD, perfectionism and procrastination, and why our adolescents shut down or explode over simple feedback. Dr. Lockhart shares practical strategies for parents struggling with teens who feel misunder
Eps 617: Revisiting Having the Courage to Let Go
In this replay episode, I'm getting real about having the courage to let go as our teens approach adulthood. I share my own journey parenting two very different kids. I talk about why our teens need space to develop crucial life skills like organization, time management, and problem-solving before they leave home. It's not just about getting them to college; it's preparing them to thrive there. I
Eps 616: Teen Sleep Solutions with Jessica Bryant: What Parents Need to Know
In this eye-opening conversation, I speak with pediatric sleep expert Jessica Bryant about the silent epidemic affecting our teenagers: chronic sleep deprivation. We uncover how overscheduled lives, screens, and caffeine are stealing the 8-10 hours teens desperately need—and how sleep loss mimics mental health issues, tanks academic performance by 40%, and threatens their developing brains. Jessic
Eps 615: End the Power Struggles - Boundaries vs Rules vs Agreements for Teens
Today I'm sharing powerful insights that transformed how I navigated my teens' adolescent years—and they're thriving now in college because of it. If you're caught between wanting control and knowing you need to let go, this episode is your lifeline. I break down the critical differences between boundaries, rules, and agreements, and why getting this wrong keeps you stuck in power struggles. Your
Eps 614: Revisiting what it means to pass on the energetic responsibility to our teens
Today is a replay - I'm diving into one of the biggest challenges we face as parents of teens: letting go of energetic responsibility. If you're exhausted from holding the weight of your teen's schoolwork, choices, and future while they seem to coast along, this episode is for you. I'll explain why our kids can't truly learn responsibility until we stop carrying it for them, share my own raw story
Eps 613: How to Be the Parent Your Teen Actually Turns To
In this episode of the Joyful Courage Podcast, I'm breaking down how to build real trust with your teenager—the kind where they believe you when you say "you can tell me anything." It's not about what we say, but how we show up when mistakes happen. I share practical ways to stay calm during the hard conversations, validation techniques that work, and how our daily micro-moments cement safety. If
Eps 612: Emily Redondo on Recovery & Family
In this episode of Joyful Courage, I sit down with Emily Redondo, a mom, author, and survivor of addiction, to talk about the messy, beautiful reality of parenting. We dive into how shame, regret, and perfectionism can hold us back—and how modeling courage and embracing mistakes are powerful models for our kids. Emily shares her experience with recovery, self-forgiveness, and building honest relat
Eps 611: Middle School Series Part Four - Connection and Courage
Part four of my Middle School Mini Series is here! In this episode, I share powerful Positive Discipline tools that build connection and courage with your tween or teen. From family meetings and special time, to curiosity, validation, encouragement, and rituals—these practices create belonging and strengthen relationships during the messy middle school years. Parenting in adolescence isn’t about p
Eps 610: Lisa Katona Smith Talks Teen Substance Use
In this powerful episode of the Joyful Courage Podcast, I sit down with certified peer recovery specialist, family consultant, TEDx, speaker and author Lisa Katona Smith to talk about how parents can stay calm, connected, and effective when teens experiment with substances, in active addiction, recovery or face big struggles. We explore Lisa’s Parallel Recovery approach — staying regulated, settin
Eps 609: Middle School Series Part Three - Life Skills to Nurture
Middle school is the perfect training ground for life skills — and in part three of the Middle School Series on Joyful Courage, I’m sharing how we can guide our tweens and teens as they practice the tools they’ll need for independence, resilience, and healthy relationships. From self-regulation and problem solving to organization, time management, communication, and self-advocacy, I unpack why the
Eps 608: Calming teenage anxiety with Sophia Vale Galano
In this week’s Joyful Courage Podcast, I sit down with therapist and author Sophia Vale Galano to talk about helping teens manage anxiety while staying grounded as parents. We explore how to meet our kids with empathy, guide them toward support without fixing, and keep conversations about mental health open and natural. Sophia offers practical tools from her book Calming Teenage Anxiety plus fresh
Eps 607: Dr. Jean Twenge and the 10 Rules for Tech with Teens
Parenting teens in the digital age is no small task. In this episode, I talk with Jean Twenge about the realities of screen time, social media, and AI. We dive into why it’s important to own our mistakes, set clear limits, and remember that phones are a privilege—not a right. Jean shares real-life examples from her own family, and we get into the challenges of parental controls, pushback from teen
Eps 606: Middle School Series Part Two - Essential Conversations
In this episode, I dive into the tough but essential conversations we need to be having with our middle schoolers — around tech, social media, consent, substances, mental health, and more. I remind parents that silence doesn’t protect our kids; it leaves them to figure things out through peers or the internet. Instead, we can lead with curiosity, plant small conversational seeds, and revisit these
Eps 605: Middle School Series Part One - Growth, Change and Belonging
Middle school is a wild ride — bodies changing, moods shifting, friendships evolving, and parents wondering how to keep up. In this first episode of my four-part middle school series, I unpack the developmental landscape of early adolescence and share how we can shift from managing to mentoring our kids.
Listen in for insight on belonging, peer influence, critical thinking, and why curiosity is y
Eps 604: Alyssa Blask Campbell on Parenting Big Feeling Teens
On this week’s Joyful Courage Podcast, I welcome Alyssa Campbell, author of Big Kids, Bigger Feelings. We dive into what’s really going on in our teens’ nervous systems and how parents can support them through big emotions, transitions, and tough conversations. We talk about the power of rest, family meetings, and shifting from talking about our kids to talking with them. If you’ve ever wondered h
Eps 603: Building structure and connection with older teens
Parenting a teen with neurodiversity, mental health challenges, or a fiery personality can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re realizing senior year is here and boundaries have been blurry. In this week’s Joyful Courage podcast, I respond to a listener questions by sharing some practical scripts and strategies for setting limits with firmness and kindness, handling explosive pushback, and re
Eps 602: Revisiting peaceful parenting and letting go of our teens with Sarah Rosensweet
Carrying on with the back-to-school season theme and all the big emotions it brings for teens — and for parents. In this episode of the Joyful Courage Podcast, I’m revisiting my conversation with parent coach Sarah Rosensweet to talk about validation, trust, and connection during this challenging transition. We dive into why control backfires, how curiosity opens doors, and ways to stay steady whe
Eps 601: Revisiting Validation, Mutual Respect and Back to School
Back-to-school season stirs up ALL the emotions for our teens—and for us too. In this replay episode, I’m diving deep into how validation and mutual respect can shift everything at home. Your teen’s emotional world is real, big, and often overwhelming. If we dismiss it, we damage connection. If we validate it, we build trust. Don’t miss this one—it’s a must-listen for parents navigating the rocky
Eps 600: Zoya Brar Talks Parenting, Stress, and Nervous System Awareness
In this episode of Joyful Courage, I sit down with Zoya Brar to explore the deep connection between stress, the nervous system, and how we show up as parents. Together, we unpack how to regulate before hard conversations, recognize hidden stress, and lean into practical tools like breathwork, mindfulness, and technology boundaries. This conversation empowers parents to see their teens with compass
Eps 599: How to Talk to Your Teen About the New School Year
Back-to-school season with tweens and teens can stir up anxiety, avoidance, and tricky conversations. In this episode, I share Positive Discipline tools and mindset shifts to help you move from “manager” to “mentor” so your teen feels respected, supported, and believed in. We’ll cover how to center yourself, start with curiosity, set clear agreements, and trust the process—because it’s about life
Eps 598: Revisiting the real work of parenting through the middle school years
Middle school is a major transition, and in this replay episode I talk about how we can prepare—not panic—as our tweens start to explore identity, tech, friendships, risk-taking, and independence. I offer insight into what’s happening developmentally, what we need to normalize (from vaping and friend drama to sex and substance conversations), and how to set healthy boundaries while staying connect
Eps 597: From Shut Down to Open Heart - Using Validation to Reconnect with Your Teen
In this episode of the Joyful Courage Podcast, I dive deep into one of the biggest struggles parents of teens face—wanting to fix our kids’ problems instead of truly seeing and hearing them. I share real-life examples, practical Positive Discipline tools, and introduce my new acronym, VIBE: Validate, Inquire, Breathe, Empathize. By learning to validate our teens’ emotions without rushing to fix, w
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